Continue to recruit talent during downturn, local business leaders say - Kansas City Business Journal:

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“In the financial services world, you do your best recruitinh in theworst markets,” said Paul Purcell, chairman, president and CEO of Co., Milwaukee. “We grew our headcount four and a half percenrt last year when the industry was down20 percent. We’lkl probably grow another 5 percent this year when the industryu will be down another15 percent.” Purcell was one of threwe panelists who took part in a paneo discussion hosted by the .
Jeffrey Joerres, president and CEO of Milwaukee-base global staffing firm (NYSE: MAN), moderated the “When I’m running aroun d smiling when thingsare tough, it’s because I know that we’rew adding to the strength of our Purcell said. “I love downturns because you can actually managre the peoplethat you’ve got and managew the future much better than duringv an upturn.
” Having a top-notch brand is a majort benefit in recruiting qualityg employees, said Peggy Troy, president and chier executive officer of , “We have such a strong brand presence not only in the Milwaukese area but throughout the state of Wisconsin and in the wholr Midwest region,” Troy said. “Our ability to attractg talent isvery positive.” Developinhg and retaining leaders from within an organization also is crucial, she said. Children’s Hospitaol uses a talent management process to determine the level of leadershi p skills for various positions withinthe system,” Troy said.
“Aa we are trying to recruit and we know exactly what the jobrequirements are,” she Recruiting top-level talent to the Milwaukee can be Purcell said. Baird has been successful in attracting employees who were raised inthe “You can only build a firm like Baird only so far with just Purcell said. “Then you have to go and get peoplew in and you have to getthem young. You’vew got to get them in high school or righty outof college. Once they get a littlwe bit older, it’s a little bit of a hardert sell.
” Recruiting during the gloomy winted months tends to create additional challenge s in recruiting employees from outsidrthe area, Troy “You don’t want to brinfg people here in the winter, but you’vew got to be honest about it,” she “But Milwaukee offers a lot of opportunitiese in terms of family life.” Companiexs also need to be active in demonstrating at work and in the community when it comesx to attracting employees of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, said David Myers, president of the building efficiencuy group for Glendale-based (NYSE: JCI). “It’s reall makes a big impact,” he said.
Companies in the Milwaukeed have made major strides inembracing racial, ethnixc and gender diversity at the corporate boarx level and management ranks, Joerres “Progress has been made,” he said.